There Went the Boom
Top-ranked Jackets handle Woodward, 64-38, move into regional final
KHS JUNIOR Caden Kitchens scored 18 points and had four assists in his team’s 64-38 victory over Woodward. [Photo by KHS Photography/www.khsphotography.smugmug.com]
Kingfisher used a 7-0 start to the second quarter and - essentially - a fivepoint play to end it.
The parts in between were pretty good, too, as the Yellowjackets made Woodward’s upset bid end in a thud with a 64-38 victory Saturday in a Class 4A regional winner’s bracket game at the APB.
Originally slated for Thursday, the game was twice delayed due to weather conditions. That pushed back the regional championship game to Tuesday (after press time) as KHS hosted No. 15 Mannford.
The visiting Boomers’ zone defense stifled Kingfisher’s offense for much of the first quarter before the Jackets made a late charge for a 13-12 lead.
That was the end of the game being close.
The Jackets ran a set to Caden Kitchens for an easy bucket to start the quarter. Kingfisher’s press led to a Maddox Mecklenburg steal and bucket just seconds later.
After Chase Davis stole a pass on the other end, Mecklenburg knocked down a 3-pointer for a 20-12 lead just 48 seconds into the quarter.
The surge continued throughout the frame when Kingfisher - up 15 - ran a play to end the half to free up Xavier Ridenour in the corner.
The junior nailed the shot as the whistle blew.
Kitchens was fouled - and subsequently had his head stomped on - by Wood ward’s Nash Hunter while setting a screen.
Kitchens shook off the cobwebs to make both free throws to give the Jackets five points in one trip.
The 30-point quarter saw them lead 43-23 at halftime.
Woodward’s Zach Chavez caught fire early in the third. He knocked down three treys and had 11 points, but Woodward wasn’t able to make a sizable dent in its deficit.
After a timeout, Chavez, who finished with 17, didn’t score again and Kingfisher extended its lead to 22 by the end of the frame.
The Boomers’ trademark is their full-court pressure.
It didn’t affect KHS, which had just nine turn overs, none against the press.
But the Jacket pressure got to Woodward, which had 24 miscues that led to 26 KHS points.
Kitchens led the way with 18 of those points and tied with Jax Sternberger with a team-high four assists.
Ridenour connected on 15 points and was 3 of 4 from long range.
Mecklenburg was 2 of 4 from 3-point range and scored 10. He also led the team with six boards.
Davis scored eight as Kingfisher improved to 23-1.
Mannford entered the regional final with a 19-5 record after knocking off McLoud 50-47 on Saturday night.